Florida State University surge past California Golden Bears as Robert McCray V sparks a second-half push?

Florida State University entered the ACC - Second Round - Game 3 at 0-0 in Conference Tournaments play, and the California Golden Bears also entered at 0-0. The Florida State Seminoles full-time result read 95-89 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte at 7:00 PM EDT, with the Noles taking the neutral-site decision.

First half

Florida State University set the early tone by putting up 46 first-half points while the Golden Bears scored 32 before halftime. The Noles built separation with a 57 field goals percent team mark and 46 three points percent in the opening half. Robert McCray V supplied 30 points for Florida State University in the game, and his 8 assists aligned with the Noles finishing with 19 assists as a team. California stayed attached with 38 total rebounds in the game, a number that exceeded Florida State University’s 26.

Second half

Florida State University answered California’s 57 second-half points with 49 after the break to secure the 95-89 result. The Tribe turned defense into offense with 20 points off turnovers while forcing the Bears into 12 turnovers. The Golden Bears generated 11 made three-point shots and shot 41 percent from deep, and that perimeter scoring kept the margin in range. Florida State University leaned on 40 points in the paint and 67 two points percent, and those interior finishes tracked as game-changing plays Florida State Seminoles vs California Golden Bears.

Key numbers that decided it

Florida State University posted 6 total turnovers, and that ball security helped produce a 3.17 assist-to-turnover ratio. The Bears drew 18 fouls and went 16-for-24 at the line for 67 free throws percent, while the Noles went 12-for-19 for 63 free throws percent. Lajae Jones recorded 15 points with 6 rebounds, and his 3 steals matched the Noles’ pressure that totaled 8 steals. Kobe MaGee added 13 points, and Chauncey Wiggins chipped in 14 points as Florida State University reached 20 bench points.

What it means going forward

The Florida State Seminoles vs California Golden Bears match summary also showed Florida State University’s biggest lead reached 22, while the game featured 1 tie and 1 lead change. What went wrong for Florida State Seminoles showed up most clearly on the glass, where California’s 13 offensive rebounds fueled 12 second-chance points. The Golden Bears also scored 11 fast-break points, while Florida State University finished with 8 fast-break points.

Florida State University’s next game is scheduled for 7:00 PM EDT on 2026-03-12 against the Duke Blue Devils at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The broadcast is set for ESPN Networks, so fans can watch the Noles on television and keep tracking the game recap and postgame analysis. Run it back with this recap, and share this article with other Florida State fans.